Last Wednesday, the New York State Research Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) made details about new financial incentives for solar installations (PON2112) available on its site.

Putting forth a strong commitment to solar energy in the state, NYSERDA is offering (more…)

Each year energy-related carbon dioxide emissions account for more than 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. According to the Energy Information Association, that adds up to over 5,814 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon in 2008 alone. The Obama administration recognizes that this is not sustainable and that’s why we’ve actively sought to not only (more…)

The government of St. Lucia has signed an agreement with a U.S.-based company to develop a series of geothermal plants they say will produce more than 120 megawatts of electricity, with plans to export much of that energy capacity within five years. The Caribbean island nation, located on the volcanic arc of the Small Antilles and home to about 175,000 people, has granted (more…)

The California Solar Initiative (CSI) is now in its fourth year and is nearly half way through the 1,750 Megawatt goal. Earlier this month, the CSI released the 2009 Impact Evaluation Report, which provides a program update and analysis. According to the report, from 2007 to 2009, the cost of residential solar power systems have declined 5% annually. In the same period, rebates paid under the (more…)

The U.S. retailing giant, Home Depot, is now selling a super-efficient, LED light bulb for just under $20, and the chain says that the bulbs are selling so quickly that it is having difficulty keeping them in stock. LED bulbs, which emit a brighter light than energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, can last as long as 30 years, which makes their $20 price tag appealing; not long ago, (more…)

For a long time the energy efficiency industry operated largely under the two-guys-and-a-truck-model: local businesses made up of small contractors.

Then the ‘super’ energy efficiency service companies (ESCOs) emerged, big operations taking on big contracts often for government, schools or hospitals, like the (more…)

I recently attended a talk at Tesla Motors about the state of the electric car industry and the history of Tesla. Wow, was I impressed. Driving an electric car fueled entirely by solar power no longer is a dream of the future. It’s here today, it’s happening around the country, and I can’t wait to join in! (more…)

It’s Friday. Before you pack your bags and head out to the Hamptons for the weekend, check out what is new in the Green Business Blog Carnival this week. Your portfolio might thank you for it! Thanks to our friends at sustainablog and Triple Pundit for coming up with the carnival. Next week, check out the carnival at Green Marketing TV. (more…)

Last week I took part in an American tradition: visiting the Wisconsin State Fair. The Wisconsin State Fair and state fairs throughout the country are a cherished summertime experience for rural America – a place where old friends and old traditions go hand-in-hand with the latest innovations. In a solar powered building, I sampled my first cheese curds. I visited Senator Herb (more…)

The carbon footprint of the internet: Around 300 million tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to every person in the UK flying to America and back twice over.

All carbon footprints are hard or impossible to pin down accurately, but the internet is a particularly complex case. This isn’t just due to the fact that the “net” consists of (more…)